Palladium Books® Weekly Update – Sept. 18, 2014

By Kevin Siembieda

The weather has turned decidedly Autumn. Morning temps are in the forties and fifties. Afternoon highs are lucky to break into the low seventies. There is a crispness to the air and at Palladium Books, the atmosphere is pure excitement.

Ideas are flying and several dynamic titles are in development along with plans to get you those long awaited Beyond the Supernatural™, Rifts Chaos Earth®, Splicers®, Heroes Unlimited™ and Palladium Fantasy RPG® releases finished and in your hands between now and this time next year. In fact, I have tentatively plotted out the schedule of our next 12 releases, starting with Graveyard Earth, Bizantium and the Northern Isles, Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines, Chaos Earth® Resurrection, Rifts® Secrets of Atlantis, and Chaos Earth® First Responders, followed by more titles. This list of 12 titles are all finished manuscripts awaiting final edit and rewrites so they can go to press over the next 4-8 months. It does not include titles still being written (like Rifts® Heroes of Humanity), under development (like BTS sourcebooks) or being retooled (like the Splicers® sourcebooks). I am determined to get good manuscripts off the shelf and into your hands as dynamic books.

Other exciting stuff is brewing behind the scenes too, but we don’t want to jinx them by mentioning anything too soon. Suffice it to say that if everything goes well, the next few months of 2014 and all of 2015 are going to be filled with new game product releases and excitement. And that includes the 2015 Palladium Open House, which we hope to make spectacular. Check out the POH update a little further on.

UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics™

In these updates, I have been trying to talk about book releases and other things happening at Palladium Books because the BIG excitement is all about the release of Robotech® RPG Tactics™. And man oh man, now that product is starting to come in from our China manufacturer and ship out – first to our Kickstarter backers and later to retail – the excitement is palpable at the office. We are excited and proud of this product and dying to start getting it into the hands of ALL of our Kickstarter backers. After product is on its way to our backers, we can start thinking seriously about distribution into stores. Awesome. So without further ado, here is the latest news and updates.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™Container Two has arrived in LA and been cleared by US Customs. It should be put on a train on Friday and arrive in Detroit by the end of next week or the following Monday. Container Three is on the ship and at sea. We’ll bring it in by truck so we can get it shortly after Container Two to make sure everything is processed and shipped out at a rapid rate. Container Number Four was loaded yesterday and sent to the port in China to sail on Monday, and Five will be shipping a week later.

We’ve been working on and planning many other aspects of the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ game line. Jeff Burke went through the current tooling files of Wave Two items listing corrections and modifications that need to be made and sent them to the engineers in China. He has also been demonstrating the game at events. Jeff and Wayne are working on making some PDFs available online as well as putting together a FAQ (our thanks to Tom, Mike and Chase for their input on these fronts), and we have all been talking about future Robotech® game products and organized play. However, at the moment, our primary focus is shipping product to Kickstarter backers and the launch of the game in retail. Our thanks to the many fans, distributors and retailers who are offering us advice, suggestions and helping to make this all come together. We continue to learn and grow with your help.

Here is a link to a How to paint Robotech® RPG Tactics™ thread from Chase, one of Palladium’s go-to guys for painting display and tabletop miniatures. So far, it is a lively discussion of painting techniques with more (and photos?) to follow.

UPDATE: Rifts® Sourcebook: Coalition States™ – Heroes of Humanity™

Writers Carl Gleba and Matthew Clements are working on their contributions and suggestion for this book, while Chuck Walton putters around with concept art. I’m making notes whenever I can. This has already spun off ideas for future Rifts® books.

UPDATE: Palladium Fantasy RPG®: Bizantium and the Northern Islands™

Matthew Clements’ initial edit and rewrite is done, and Chuck Walton’s cover is being tightened. Digital painting may have already been started. Meanwhile, I reviewed some files and have begun to assign the artwork for it. This will be a Fall 2014 release.

UPDATE: Dead Reign™ – Graveyard Earth™ Sourcebook

I want this bad boy out by Halloween. This will be a Fall 2014 release. It’s another fun zombie title by Matthew Clements.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #68 – Autumn Issue

I approved the pencil sketch of the cover by John Zeleznik and he should be painting away. We are assessing material for it as you read this. It should even include some “official” Megaverse® in Flames™ source material that was trimmed from the main book.

UPDATE: Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines Sourcebook One

– Formerly titled ‘UEEF Marines’

It’s coming. Still planned for a 2014 release.

UPDATE: 2015 Palladium Open House (POH) – May 15-17, 2015

The 2015 Open House is going to be freaking awesome. Take a look at the Palladium Creators who have already confirmed they will be attending.

Ramon Perez – artist – Ramon has been working in the comic book industry at Marvel Comics, DC, Boom and other publishers. He is currently illustrating Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man: Learning to Crawl. Ramon is still “tentative,” but he is checking his schedule now and hopes to be able to make it in 2015. I will update you when he confirms. Everyone else in this list has confirmed.

MANY more writers, artists and creators are expected to join this list.

And we may have a surprise guest or two.

I think we may max out our attendance numbers for 2015, so make sure you order your tickets sooner than later to make sure you are not turned away. Palladium can only accommodate around 300 gamers total (plus staff and Palladium creators). Once we reach that number, the POH will be sold out. Order in the coming months or risk not being able to attend. If you wait till March or April, 2015 it may be too late!

A more complete description of the 2015 POH is in the online store and you can start purchasing your admission for the weekend or individual days as well as VIP Thursday (May 14, 2015). This write-up is just the highlights, please read the full description in the store. Remember, Price of admission covers ALL EVENTS, except VIP Thursday. There are no extra fees for gaming events, panel talks or autographs.

$45 per person for the Three Day Weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday; May 15, 16 & 17) when ordered in advance per each individual. ($60 at the door and after April 12, 2015, if space is available.)

$87 additional for VIP Night – Thursday – May 14, 2014. The VIP Night always sells out within weeks, so make your reservation as soon as possible. First-come, first-served. VIP Night is a special, one-evening event limited to around 120 gamers – 70 are available to start. VIP Thursday, May 14, 2014: 3:00 P.M. till 12:00 P.M. NOTE: As has become tradition, we hold a number of VIP slots to be offered at a later date – typically February – so that gamers who decide to attend at a later date have a chance at getting into the coveted VIP Night too. You get the delicious meal catered by Palladium’s very own Kathy Simmons (people rave about her meals), plus you get an extra afternoon and evening of gaming (opens late afternoon), a more intimate chance to talk with Palladium staff, artists and writers, and first crack at rare collectibles, prints and original art.

Other POH Highlights:

40+ Palladium creators. See the store description for details. In the past, the POH usually has 35-50 creators (writers, artists, editors, staff, Rifter contributors, etc.) attending. More than at any other convention or gathering anywhere, ever! And most are available to you almost the ENTIRE event to chat with you and sign autographs. Some will even run gaming events!

3 days of Palladium gaming.

100+ gaming events. Game Masters/Megaversal Ambassadors NEEDED!

Many games run by the people who make them, including Kevin Siembieda, Julius Rosenstein, Carmen Bellaire, Brandon Aten, Greg Diaczyk, Taylor White and many others!

8-10 panel talks each day, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Subjects run from player and G.M. tips, to writing and game design, to meeting various artists and more.

Auction of art and collectibles.

A family reunion atmosphere. Meet gamers from around the world

And it all happens at the Palladium warehouse and offices, where the magic happens! Okay, not quite “all.” When the gaming stops around 1:00 AM every night, the hotel has a large conference room where you maniacs can continue to game till you drop. There is room for at least 8 games in the room.

UPDATE: 2015 Open House Hotel

You should reserve your hotel room today. Your card will not be charged until next May. Other hotels are booked due to a sporting event the same weekend, so other area hotels will be filled. RESERVE YOUR ROOM TODAY or the next available hotel may be 20+ miles away.

Comfort Inn

40455 Ann Arbor RoadPlymouth, MI 48170Phone: 734-455-8100

Group Code: Palladium Books – you MUST request the Group Code “Palladium Books” at the time of booking to ensure the correct rate will be quoted and billed to you.

Dates of the 2015 Palladium Open House (POH): May 15-17 (May 14 is VIP Thursday), 2015.

$109.00 (plus tax) per night at the Comfort Inn, a.k.a. “Plymouth Clock Tower Hotel.” That’s $109 (plus tax) for a room with two queen beds or one king with a sofa that has a pull-out sleeper. ALL rooms have a micro-fridge and FREE high-speed wired/wireless Internet. The hotel also offers a FREE hot breakfast from 6 A.M. to 10 A.M. near the lobby, heated indoor swimming pool, a fitness center (24 hours), and a coin operated laundry. The large conference room is ours to use for around the clock open gaming. Reserve using Group Code: Palladium Books. And do it as soon as possible. The hotel has been remodeled, resulting in a smaller number of rooms. If you know you are coming to the 2015 Palladium Open House, we recommend you reserve your room today. Important Note: You MUST give them the Group Code: Palladium Books to get this rate. Call 734-455-8100 to make your reservation. The hotel does NOT charge your credit card until a few days before the event and you can cancel up to May 10, 2015. So there is no reason to wait.

2015 POH Game Masters needed

Palladium Megaversal Ambassadors, Palladium creators, and any experienced Game Master planning to come to the 2015 Palladium Open House – please let us know if you are planning to run one or more gaming events. Those who run three or more get special discounts, free T-shirt and more. We need plenty of games to satisfy 300 gamers. Your help is appreciated. Contact us by telephone (734-721-2903) or by email at palladium-gm@palladiumbooks.com.

Rifts® 25th Anniversary in 2015

Rifts® turns 25 next year. Looking for ideas on products and promotions for Rifts® at the Palladium Open House (POH) and throughout the year. Please voice your thoughts on the matter.

That’s it for now. Enjoy your weekend and keep those imaginations burning bright.

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher, Writer and Game Designer

NEW! Rifts® Northern Gun™ Two – signed & numbered print

The first batch of prints went to a select number of the Megaverse Insiders, but starting with Number 102, you too can get a signed and numbered Northern Gun™ Two Print. It is the striking John Zeleznik wrap-around cover without any text or logo to obscure the artwork. Limited to a total of 290 copies. Suitable for framing.

Limited to 290 signed and numbered prints; 101 of which have already gone to Megaverse Insider crowdfunders. The remaining 189 prints are available while supplies last.

The artwork is by the dynamic John Zeleznik.

Each is signed by Charles Walton (artist), Matthew Clements (author) and Kevin Siembieda (author and publisher) in silver.

NG-1 Print by Chuck Walton – Cat. No. PR810 – is also still available – $10.00

NEW! Future Visions™

– The Artistry of Charles Walton II – Available now

We call it Future Visions because it very much gives you a glimpse into the future of what is coming from Palladium Books. It is jam-packed with black and white artwork and concept art for several of the upcoming Splicers® sourcebooks and a couple other Palladium projects. Things we are excited about and want you to be, too. People can’t seem to get enough of Chuck Walton artwork, so here is an entire 96 page book filled with it. Some of the art is finished pieces, many others are concept art that may be tweaked and altered, or not used at all. Much of it is material you would never ordinarily see. If you like this book and it sells well, it can be the first of several Charles Walton II art books (and other artists?). We hope you enjoy it. It was a fun, quick and easy project to throw together. It didn't impact our schedule more than a few days.

NEW! Rifts® World Book 35: Megaverse® in Flames™ – Available now

The Minion War is here and the demons seek to conquer Rifts Earth. They are bringing demonic armies by the tens of thousands across the dimensional divide, unleashing plagues, seeking out magic artifacts, recruiting monsters and mortal allies, and testing their strength against Earth’s military powers. Worse, they are building Hell Pits so that they can unleash Hell on Earth! Not to be outdone, the Minions of Dyval are doing all the same things. Clashes between demons and Deevils are increasing every day and turn into titanic free-for-alls when Earth forces join the battle. As demonic supernatural forces ramp up, enslave people and wreak havoc across the globe, the question becomes: Is this the beginning of a new Dark Age?

NEW! Megaverse® in Flames™ “Gold Edition” – Available now

This book has so much cool stuff in it, we thought it deserved the Gold Hardcover treatment. Imprinted gold foil on black leatherette, signed by the Palladium staff, Matthew Clements and Chuck Walton. (You can get Carl Gleba’s signature at the Palladium Open House next May.)

Limited to 300 signed and numbered copies.

Signed and numbered on the credits page by Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium staff. We’ll get Matthew Clements and Chuck Walton to sign as well.

Black leatherette cover with gold foil imprinting.

Interior pages are exactly the same as the softcover edition.

Written by Carl Gleba. Additional text by Kevin Siembieda.

Gold Edition cover art by Nick Bradshaw.

192 pages – $50 while supplies last – Cat. No. 876HC – only available directly from Palladium Books. Sorry, this product is not available in stores.

Available now.

NEW! The Rifter® #67 – Available now

Every issue of The Rifter® is an idea factory for players and Game Masters to generate new ideas and find new avenues of adventure. It provides useful, ready to go source material you can just drop into your ongoing games. A doorway to new possibilities and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. And the many new characters, O.C.C.s, powers, magic, weapons, villains, monsters, adventures and ideas for one setting can be easily adapted to any Palladium setting. Every issue has material for Rifts® and at least 2-3 other Palladium game lines. And don’t forget, most of the material can be easily adapted for use in ANY Palladium game setting.

The Rifter® Number 67 includes:

Heroes Unlimited™ – Power Behind the Throne – by Alex Tullock. Get a glimpse at some of the true powers pulling the strings of governments and their superhumans. Spice up your Heroes Unlimited™ campaign with some political, spy and espionage elements along with supermen. Plenty of ideas for adventures, and includes NPCs and Hook, Line & Sinker adventure ideas.

Palladium Fantasy RPG® “Paper Miniatures” is a new digital product line created by artist and writer “Madman” Mike Leonard. They are designed as full color paper game pieces that you print on a card stock, cut out and slide into a paper stand (all part of the package you purchase). A FREE Sample and the first two sets of Palladium Fantasy RPG® Paper Miniatures are available NOW on DriveThruRPG.

In a week or two a Great Horned Dragon will be added, and two more Volumes are coming in the next month or two. And don’t forget, first edition rules of the Palladium Fantasy RPG® and several sourcebooks (and 90+ other titles including the Rifts® and Splicers® RPGs) are also available as PDFs. Have fun.

NEW! Dead Reign™ Sourcebook 5: Graveyard Earth™ – Ships Fall

When the dead rise and communications and power grids collapse, nothing matters except your own survival. But what about the rest of the world? What’s happening in other places? Has any government survived? Is anyplace safe? Dead Reign™ Graveyard Earth™ tries to answer those questions and others. And in doing so, provides gamers and G.M.s with more fuel for adventure.

Zombie World Tour – How the Wave and the Zombie Apocalypse have played out across the globe.

A Thousand Miles of Dead – Getting home from abroad in a world of zombies.

American military forces overseas and their journey home.

Alternative campaign settings and Random Campaign Setting tables.

Random Encounters by Region and Random Survivor Leaders.

Level of Zombie Threat table. Zombies and exposure to the elements.

Walled cities and other Alternative Safe Havens.

Car problems, aircraft landing conditions and encounters on the road and by sea.

Journey to the Island Kingdom of Bizantium, situated at the far northern peak of the Palladium World. Its vast fleets of merchant vessels and warships travel the high seas and bring untold wealth back to the kingdom, as well as exotic goods, people, customs, weapons and foreign magic. With rich, ambitious Merchant-Princes all around him, Bizantium’s colonies on the Shadow Coast in a state of near-revolt, and powers from the Western Empire to the Eastern Territory trying to exert their influence on the throne, the oblivious King Raedaen IV is in troubled waters – and the sharks are starting to gather.

Full timeline of the history of Bizantium, from its mythical founding to the kings, queens and high priests of the Northern Islands.

NEW! Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines Sourcebook One

– Formerly titled ‘UEEF Marines’

Robotech®: Expeditionary Force Marines sourcebook is set in space with the UEEF (United Earth Expeditionary Force) led by Admiral Rick Hunter. This valiant force of mecha clad heroes travel across the galaxy liberating planets from the bondage of the Invid Regent, the Robotech Masters and other tyrants and monsters.

Coming BACK IN PRINT – Rise of Magic™

A Rifts® Chaos Earth® Sourcebook – Fall

Rescheduled for a Fall release.

The return of magic has empowered humans with strange and wondrous powers, unlike anything quite yet seen (and different from most conventional types of magic). This only complicates things for Earth’s defenders as the line of distinction between “good guys” and “bad guys” begins to blur.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ – Coming to Stores Fall, 2014

This is the game Robotech® fans have wanted for decades.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ is a fast-paced, tabletop combat game that captures the action and adventure of the Robotech® anime. Two or more players can engage in small squad skirmishes or scale up to massive battles. Relive the clashes of the First Robotech War, engage in stand-alone tactical games, or use the dynamic game pieces to enhance your Robotech® RPG experience. Or simply collect your favorite mecha from an expanding range of top-notch game pieces.

Mecha vs Mecha. Take command of the fighting forces of the United Earth Defense Force (UEDF) valiantly defending Earth from alien annihilation. Or lead the massive clone armies of the Zentraedi Armada to recover an alien artifact of immense power and enslave humankind.

Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Box Set – Cat. No. 55100

Brought to you by Palladium Books®, created with Ninja Division (the creative minds behind Soda Pop Miniatures and Cipher Studios).

112 page, full color, softcover rule book. Includes an index and a comprehensive color guide for all Macross mecha in the series.

24 Battle Dice, 12 UEDF and 12 Zentraedi.

53 color game cards (unit cards, etc.).

4x VF-1A Valkyries (in Fighter, Guardian, and Battloid modes).

1x VF-1J "Officer" in all three modes.

4x Destroids: 2 Tomahawks and 2 Defenders.

12x Regult Zentraedi Battlepods.

1x Glaug Officer's Battlepod.

1x Quel-Regult Recon Battlepod.

1x Quel-Gulnau Recovery Pod.

1/285th scale, high quality, multi-pose plastic game pieces (40mm to 70mm tall). World-class sculpts from sculptors around the world.

Game rules use D6.

Turn-based system of play.

Scalable from small squad skirmishes to mass battles. Can accommodate two to several players.

Zentraedi Artillery Battlepods

Give your Zentraedi legion greater firepower with these artillery and support Battlepods; four figures total.

4 Zentraedi Support Battlepods, each of which can be made into any of the following:Gluuhaug-Regult – Light Artillery BattlepodSerauhaug-Regult – Heavy Artillery BattlepodTelnesta-Regult – Experimental Particle Beam BattlepodFour figures total.

Plastic game pieces require assembly and painting.

Not a toy. Small parts, choking hazard. Not recommended for children under the age of 13. Adult supervision advised.

Robotech® Macross® Saga Sourcebook – New 8½ x 11 size – Available now

All the famous mecha and action of Robotech® starts here with the Macross® Saga when an alien armada enters Earth orbit. They have come to reclaim a lost spacecraft that crash-landed on Earth 10 years earlier. A space fortress that Earth’s protectors have rebuilt into their own flagship against alien invasion. The resulting conflict gives birth to heroes and becomes the stuff of legend, but the Earth will never be the same. Robotech® The Macross® Saga Sourcebook is now available as an 8½ x 11 inch sourcebook.

Note: This is the setting for Robotech® RPG Tactics™, so if you’re looking for more information about the mecha, Earth’s defenders, the Zentraedi invaders, and Macross Saga setting, this is the book for you. Epic adventure awaits.

A Robotech® Role-Playing Game Sourcebook:

Transformable Veritech Fighters known as Valkyries take to the sky to defend the Earth.

PDF downloads from DriveThruRPG.com

This is a great resource for getting out of print Palladium titles and other select books. We’ve made 90 titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include:

2015 Palladium Open House (POH) – May 14-17, 2015

The full description is in the online store and you can start purchasing your admission for the weekend or individual days as well as VIP Thursday (May 14, 2015). This write-up is just the highlights, please read the full description in the store.

Price of admission covers ALL EVENTS, except VIP Thursday. There are no extra fees for gaming events, panel talks or autographs.

$45 per person for the Three Day Weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday; May 15, 16 & 17) when ordered in advance per each individual. ($60 at the door and after April 12, 2015, if space is available.)

$25 for Friday, 9:00 AM till Closing (about midnight). Same price at the door, if space is available.

$25 for Saturday, 9:00 AM till Closing (about midnight). Same price at the door, if space is available.

$12 for Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Same price at the door, if space is available.

$87 additional for VIP Night – Thursday – May 14, 2014. The VIP Night always sells out within weeks, so make your reservation as soon as possible. First-come, first-served. VIP Night is a special, one-evening event limited to around 120 gamers – 70 are available right now. VIP Thursday, May 14, 2014: 3:00 P.M. till 12:00 P.M. This event sells out every year in week or two (sometimes in a day or two). NOTE: As has become tradition, we hold a number of VIP slots to be offered at a later date – typically February – so that gamers who decide to attend at a later date have a chance at getting into the coveted VIP Night too. You get the delicious meal catered by Palladium’s very own Kathy Simmons (people rave about her meal), plus you get an extra afternoon and evening of gaming (opens late afternoon), a more intimate chance to talk with Palladium staff, artists and writers, and first crack at rare collectibles, prints and original art.

● 40+ Palladium creators. See the store description for details. In the past, the POH usually has 35-50 creators (writers, artists, editors, staff, Rifter contributors, etc.) attending. More than at any other convention or gathering anywhere, ever! And most are available to you almost the ENTIRE event to chat with you and sign autographs. Some will even run gaming events!

● 100+ gaming events. Game Masters/Megaversal Ambassadors NEEDED!

● Many games run by the people who make them, including Kevin Siembieda, Julius Rosenstein, Carmen Bellaire, Brandon Aten, Taylor White and many others!

● More panel talks than ever!

● Auction and more.

● A family reunion atmosphere.

● And it all happens at the Palladium warehouse and offices, where the magic happens! Okay, not quite “all.” When the gaming stops around 1:00 AM every night, the hotel has a large conference room where you maniacs can continue to game till you drop. There is room for at least 8 games in the room.

2015 Open House Hotel – reserve your rooms NOW!

You should reserve your hotel room now. Your card will not be charged until next May.

Comfort Inn

40455 Ann Arbor RoadPlymouth, MI 48170Phone: 734-455-8100

Group Code: Palladium Books – you MUST request the Group Code “Palladium Books” at the time of booking to ensure the correct rate will be quoted and billed to you.

Dates of the 2015 Palladium Open House (POH): May 15-17 (May 14 is VIP Thursday), 2015.

$109.00 (plus tax) per night at the Comfort Inn, a.k.a. “Plymouth Clock Tower Hotel.” That’s $109 (plus tax) for a room with two queen beds or one king with a sofa that has a pull-out sleeper. ALL rooms have a micro-fridge, FREE high-speed wired/wireless Internet and there is a FREE hot breakfast from 6 A.M. to 10 A.M. near the lobby.

Reserve using Group Code Palladium Books sooner than later. The hotel has been remodeled, resulting in a smaller number of rooms. If you know you are coming to the 2015 Palladium Open House, we recommend you reserve your room as soon as possible to get this superior rate. Important Note: You MUST give them the Group Code: Palladium Books to get this rate. Call 734-455-8100 to make your reservation. The hotel does NOT charge your credit card until a few days before the event (next year!) and you can cancel up until May 10, 2015. So there is no reason to wait. Get your room(s) reserved right away. Besides, I suspect POH attendees could take EVERY room in the hotel next year, so the sooner they know that, the sooner they can put MORE rooms aside for us. They don’t believe we’ll sell out the hotel. Silly, new management. :)

The hotel also offers a heated indoor swimming pool, a fitness center (24 hours), and a coin operated laundry. And the large conference room is ours to use, around the clock, for open gaming.

This is the hotel everyone knows and wants. You can start placing hotel reservations for the 2015 Palladium Open House now. Make sure you tell them the Group Code “Palladium Books.” This is a must to get the superior group rate.